Second family accuses PHS of 'interrogation'

PORTSMOUTH — A legal guardian of a second girl who claims she was wrongfully suspended over allegations she drank alcohol before a school dance is pursuing legal action against the school district.

Joey Cresta

PORTSMOUTH — A legal guardian of a second girl who claims she was wrongfully suspended over allegations she drank alcohol before a school dance is pursuing legal action against the school district.

Archie Griffin said he believes his granddaughter's rights were violated by the way Portsmouth High School handled an investigation into reports that students showed up at last Friday night's dance under the influence of alcohol. He said Thursday night he has spoken with attorney Paul McEachern of Portsmouth, who is taking the case.

Six PHS students were suspended after school officials received word they had consumed alcohol before the dance, in violation of school policy. A mother of one girl contacted the Portsmouth Herald on Wednesday and said her daughter denied the allegations, but was interrogated in the assistant principal's office for more than an hour before being told she was suspended for three days.

That girl is a friend of Griffin's 14-year-old granddaughter, whom he has legal custody over. The Herald is not identifying the girls.

Griffin said the girls were hanging out together before Friday's dance. He picked them up at 6:40 p.m., brought them to McDonald's for dinner, then dropped them off at the school's doors shortly after 7 p.m., he said.

His granddaughter always gives him a hug and kiss goodbye, and as a father of two sons, Griffin said he would be able to tell whether she had been drinking.

"I would see signs of it," he said. "I would've known if she was drinking or if something was physically wrong."

However, the two girls were mentioned along with four others as being involved in the illegal drinking. All were issued three-day suspensions.

According to the N.H. Department of Education's administrative rules on suspensions, students must receive oral or written notice of the charges and an explanation of the evidence against them; an opportunity to present their side of the story; and a written statement to the pupils and at least one parent or guardian explaining the disciplinary action.

Griffin said the school did not follow those procedures. He said there was no evidence against his granddaughter and he never received a written statement regarding the suspension. He added that she offered a confession when Assistant Principal Kathleen Blake warned her the consequences would be more severe if she didn't.

"It was handled like a police interrogation," he said, adding he was never given a chance to voice his opinion, either.

Griffin said his attorney is drafting a letter to the School Board, requesting it overturn the suspensions and issue a public apology.

"If they don't, then we'll move forward with whatever we have to do," he said.

Superintendent Ed McDonough was asked about the dance incident Thursday, but declined to comment. School Board Chairwoman Leslie Stevens could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

Portsmouth High School Principal Jeff Collins said Wednesday he could not speak about disciplinary actions against specific students, but he said the point of discipline is to ensure kids learn from their mistakes.

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